Over the years many of us have viewed with alarm and sadness the relentless encroachment of mines up this valley and now threatening our Horse Capital of Australia.

Apart from jobs engendered by the horse industry itself, this industry also complements our rural lifestyle which itself encourages jobs in tourism and hospitality.

Surely well managed and attractive horse studs and other agricultural enterprises against the backdrop of our beautiful natural landscape are infinitely preferable to the menace of sterile moonscapes blighting even  larger areas of the Hunter Valley.